Cricket Round-Up CLIFTON cruised into the final of the Cross Cup with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory against Atherton on Sunday.

WALKDEN’S Rob Slater took 2-13 in his side’s 10-run Cup defeat against Westhoughton.

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Cricket Round-Up

CLIFTON cruised into the final of the Cross Cup with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory against Atherton on Sunday.

The Bolton Association side had Andrew Griffiths and Ian Morris to thank after the pair saw the visitors home with unbeaten half centuries.

With their league game hit by rain on Saturday, Atherton batted first and were dismissed for 155. All the Clifton bowlers chipped in, with Stephen Holt the pick with three wickets.

The Manchester Road outfit then struggled at the start of their innings, stumbling to 32 for 3, before Griffiths (58 not out) and Morris (57 no) steadied the ship and saw them home.

Clifton will now play Walshaw in the final on Sunday, August 1 at Adlington.

The seconds failed in their attempt to win the Ishelwood Trophy for the third year running.

Elton batted first and made 178 despite Rob Meredith's 5-39. In reply, Clifton were bowled out for 113 with only Pete Davies (53) making any sort of contribution.

WALKDEN crashed out of the prestigious Thwaites Lancashire LCB Cup, a trophy they have won for the last two seasons, when they lost by 10 runs to fellow Warburtons Bolton League side Westhoughton.

League leaders Westhoughton beat the holders in the penultimate over when a Walkden victory looked assured.

Westhoughton, on winning the toss, decided to bat and posted 144 for 9 in the allotted 45 overs. Tight bowling restricted the runs with Dave Smith 4-33, Bernard Reidy 2-29 and Rob Slater 2-13 all contributing.

In reply, Walkden got off to the worst possible start when they lost Aussie Peter Roach second ball. By the third over they were struggling at 6 for 3 with Smith and Phil Ingram also going for ducks. West Indian pro Antonio Mayers accounting for all three.

Captain Mike Bennison (46) and Sam Reidy brought Walkden back into the match putting on a partnership of 74 before Reidy departed.

Mayers then took a brilliant catch to dismiss Bennison on 46. Karl Bates and Bernard Reidy took Walkden closer to the total with plenty of overs to spare.

When Reidy was caught on the boundary with Walkden seven down and needing 15 runs for victory it still seemed a formality. But all three went without scoring and Walkden were all out for 134.

In the league match on Saturday at the Walkden Oval Farnworth were well beaten giving the home side maximum points.

STRETFORD took advantage of the weather to make inroads into Monton and Weaste's lead at the top of the Manchester Association by beating Hindley St Peters. Swinton Moorside and Winton's fixtures were also victims of the rain.

WORSLEY'S game at Orrell on Saturday was abandoned without a ball being bowled in the Littlewoods Gaming Liverpool Competition.